Weakest Link In Weymouth!!

After 12 wet and windy days in Devon for our summer holidays we decided to cut and run and return home early. This did however present the opportunity to take advantage of a gap in the weather and get on an individuals trip out of Weymouth on the 15th August. Having consulted www.deepsea.co.uk I contacted Colin Penny who was running a competition week and tagged along with another group of anglers who had spent the week on the boat fishing various matches.

Colin advised to come prepared for anything as the weather had made the fishing unpredictable. So at 7.15am I turned up at the boat armed with three grades of tackle and an array of terminal gear looking forward to a good day. The weather was great, the sea was calm and I had even remembered the camera - what could go wrong!

Well my first mistake was that I only brought squid with me for bait, I had thought I would get some fresh mackerel as well and as when I had arrived at the boat Colin said he wanted to go for big fish I didn't think worm necessary. I looked around the boat at the other anglers starting to tackle up for the day I got my first inlking of the trouble I was in competition wise. There were an unhealthy number of badges aqnd stickers on smocks and seat boxes proclaiming a myriad of awards, prizes and accolades that these guys had won.

I also noticed that the rigs they were using were way more complicated than anything I know how to tie. Most fishing 3 hooks with various sized hooks presented at various depths, and I would later find often fishing different baits to maximise the chances of catching a fish.

Undeterred however I set off with the rest of the crew to the harbour wall for a couple of drifts to get some mackerel to add to my squid. Well here it started to go badly for me. There were not enormous numbers of mackerel but fish came aboard all around me. Sadly though, I didn't get a single bite. We moved to the harbour entrance and some more fish were taken, as well as some Pollack and a Ballan Wrasse caught by the eventual winner of the day, Robin. Several anglers were off the mark with several fish and a couple of species each and I was still fishless, and worst of all severely limited for bait.

Colin quickly called for us to get our lines in and we were off to a rough ground mark west of the bill where we could fish at anchor until about mid day. The conditions were perfect as we rounded the bill.

The Portland Bill Lighthouse In Early Morning Sunshine

It didn't take too long to get to the mark and we were swiftly at anchor. As the boat swung in to position and settled on the anchor we tried for some more mackerel, more came on board but you guessed it, not for me.

With only squid for bait I set up for Bream using my favourite half a squid head for bait. The tide ran moderately fast for the first 40 minutes or so but quickly abated. After about five minutes fish started to come aboard fairly regularly. Robin registered a small Tope of around 5 lbs which was the first fish to be recorded for the best fish of the day award. This was quickly overtaken however by Wayne from Shepton Mallet with a really good fish, this excellent Thornback Ray of 11.5 lbs.

The gauntlet had been thrown down for the best fish of the day!

The fresh mackerel bait that the other anglers had started to attract dog fish and then a rush of small tope (I didn't count but maybe 10 or so were caught).

Still I caught nothing.

Next Andy from Bedfordshire open the account for the boat with regard to Bream catching this nice specimen of around 3lbs.

A number of Bream started to come aboard with Robin registering this species as well as a Red Gurnard for good measure - his points tally was accelerating fast.

Mine remained zero.

But at last I had a bite! Just a small bite but a bite none the less. I reeled cautiously hoping not to lose the fish, hoping it would be a high scoring Bream, or maybe a Gurnard, or maybe even a tiny Tope, but I new in my heart of hearts what it would be - yes a one point dogfish!!

But with my duck broken I had renewed hope. I followed the dogfish with a series of bites for the rest of the time at this mark, but only producing 6 Pouts whilst those around me enjoyed far better fare. I tried a half pout on my heavy gear for a while to see if could find a conger, but to no avail.

At around 12, Colin called for us to get our gear in and we were off for a few drifts over a nearby wreck. Fortunately I had some lures and attached my favourite blue storm shad to a shortish trace. First drift and I caught another Pouting, but a big one I should add, though still only worth a measly single point.

The next drift I had a much better bite and finally caught a proper fish. It was a Pollack, only around 2.5 lbs, but a Pollack none the less. Other Anglers were catching their points quota of Pouting and some Pollack and Robin registered both species at the wreck.

We then moved to the final mark of the day, just to the west of the bill on some rough ground to the north of the mussel beds. Here, and at last, I finally caught some mackerel and had some alternative bait to try. That said good it did me no good as I failed to catch another fish. I had plenty of small bites but no takes, whilst several more bream were taken along with dogfish and Pouts.

At this mark Wayne strengthened his grip on the best fish award with this fabulous Bull Huss which was over 12 lbs in weight.

Robin became the undisputed winner of the competition when with his virtually last drop caught a John Dory, a fish I have never seen caught before.

So the winning score was 218 points from memory and with just 72 I was soundly beaten by a group of anglers who showed me I have a lot to learn about competition fishing (or fishing in general!).

Despite my own lack of success, and being declared "the weakest link" by Colin it was an excellent day out with large numbers of good fish of many species being caught, most of which were returned to fight another day.

I am out fishing with my kids next on Bank Holiday Monday, here's hoping they don't give me a beating too!

Contact - steve@madpolka.co.uk

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